South Africa team selection

[Prince EWS]

I'm still in the "Bavuma's not actually as bad as everyone says he is" camp, although he does make it hard to remain in that camp at times, particularly of late.

At the risk of venturing into cherry-picking stats to prove my point, he's played 7 matches against Sri Lanka (more than any team apart from England) and only averages 13.07 against them. If you remove those matches then he averages 39.64, which looks a lot better than his career average of 33.00, and to have an average like that without the 100s to boost it does point to a level of consistency. But as you rightly say consistently scoring 40 isn't enough and he does need to start producing more than that.

This is a good post, but such dire failures against Sri Lanka - I suspect mostly in Sri Lanka, and those couple of Tests at home last summer - don't say a lot for his potential to add a lot in similar conditions in India.

Something I think that's very important to get right about Bavuma is that he has a niche role as "collapse preventer" and so he shouldn't be batting above six. He doesn't convert well enough to bat higher. If SA want to play five bowlers he absolutely shouldn't be selected, and Faf shouldn't hide below him in the batting order as sometimes happens either.

 

[Stefan9]

When the pressure is on in the sub-continent or you want to bounce ideas off with someone whether technically or mentally dealing with international level I know who I would want to have with me as a young player which is clearly the path we will be taking.

I will be surprised if we gain any success in the next while. Morale will drop. Hope Nkwe can get us moving forward but have my doubts. The platform for the next 6-10 years starts here for me.

A Great man-manager can manage that without having necessarily played at that level.

As for the technical coaching skill can be learned or assistants with that skillset can be employed.

Only time will tell whether Enoch has those man management skills but I certainly won't hold no international cricket played against.

 

[SeamUp]

SA Test squad for India

Elgar
Markram
Hamza
De Bruyn
Faf (c)
Bavuma (vc)

De Kock
Second

Maharaj
Piedt
Muthusamy

Rabada
Ngidi
Philander
Nortje

 

[SeamUp]

SA T20 squad

De Kock (c)
Van der Dussen (vc)
R.Hendricks
Bavuma
JJ Smuts
Miller

Phehlukwayo
D.Pretorius

Shamsi
Fortuin

Rabada
Nortje
B.Hendricks
Dala

 

[SeamUp]

First time picks for Muthusamy, Second & Nortje.in test squad. Made my case strongly re: Bavuma and now made vice captain. Big year for him particularly and Elgar as senior players in the dressing room.

Fortuin the uncapped player in T20 squad.

Chris Morris didn't make himself available for selection. So that is his international career definitely over.

Also heard rumours that Keegan Petersen has replaced de Bruyn in SA A squad. Also talk 19 year-old Marco Jansen has been called up.

Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn and Lungi Ngidi were not considered for T20 selection as they will be continuing their preparation for the Test series by playing in South Africa A's four-day matches against India A.

 

[MrPrez]

Squad feels a bit light on batsmen for the tests. Pretty much no reserve batsmen, unless you count Second.

 

[akilana]

I'm still in the "Bavuma's not actually as bad as everyone says he is" camp, although he does make it hard to remain in that camp at times, particularly of late.

At the risk of venturing into cherry-picking stats to prove my point, he's played 7 matches against Sri Lanka (more than any team apart from England) and only averages 13.07 against them. If you remove those matches then he averages 39.64, which looks a lot better than his career average of 33.00, and to have an average like that without the 100s to boost it does point to a level of consistency. But as you rightly say consistently scoring 40 isn't enough and he does need to start producing more than that.

An average of 33 means the player is consistently rubbish and that’s not good enough to win test matches.
He is also selected in t20 squad. lol

 

[StephenZA]

Interesting to see vd Dussen get VC role, and QDK captain in the T20, with Bavuma in squad and VC of the Test team? Nice to also see them let Markram, de Bruyn and Ngidi prepare instead for the Tests... strange that they did not do the same for Bavuma?

Muthusamy over Mulder I assume is because of India? And not convinced of Philander going, but they probably need the experience. Maybe India will give us some green tops!

 

[Dendarii]

Muthusamy over Mulder I assume is because of India?

I wonder if they're thinking of playing Muthusamy at seven so that they can potentially go into a game with three spinning options. That could explain why the squad looks a little short on batting, as MrPrez pointed out. Although Second does have a first-class average of 45, so could conceivably play as a specialist batsman.

But if that is the plan then it's one I'm not convinced about. They'd probably be better served by brining in a better batsman, and Elgar and Markram are options if the pitch really is turning enough to potentially warrant another spinner.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

QDK as a captain. Oh dear.

 

[Anthosan]

Nothing Racial in nature but just curious is Quinton De Kock ( the best keeper in the world right now) a Afrikaan or Coloured ?

 

[Stefan9]

Not pleased with mulder not getting picked. Squad definitely light on batting. Also not pleased with bavuma as vc and qdk as captain( he is not a captain and will never be...)

 

[StephenZA]

SA Test squad for India

Elgar
Markram
Hamza
De Bruyn
Faf (c)
Bavuma (vc)

De Kock
Second

Maharaj
Piedt
Muthusamy

Rabada
Ngidi
Philander
Nortje

Looking at the squad again it makes a lot of sense. They have effectively gone for the same 6 batsmen that have been in an around the squad for the last 2 years. An extra batsmen really changes nothing, and Seconds has done well enough domestically to be given opportunity as a batsmen/wk cover. The only other choices under question would be Muthusamy and Philander. Muthusamy is because of being in subcontinent. And Philander is because of his experience. I am disappointed Mulder did not get picked instead of either of those two but maybe giving him another year at franchise level is also a good option and/or waiting for the SA series. If an extra batsmen is needed it would be easy enough to pick someone from the SA 'A' squad before they head back.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't think Mulder in the subcontinent makes much sense at this point. Maybe as a punt after he's done something elsewhere, but if South Africa are going to pick someone as "the allrounder" on this tour it should probably be a spinner, and Muthusamy has had a really good couple of franchise seasons. I know he popped up in the CWPL draft for example which is always a good endorsement of an uncapped player's domestic performances.

I'm looking forward to Mulder getting a proper crack at #6 (or #7 behind de Kock) at home.

 

[StephenZA]

I don't think Mulder in the subcontinent makes much sense at this point. Maybe as a punt after he's done something elsewhere, but if South Africa are going to pick someone as "the allrounder" on this tour it should probably be a spinner, and Muthusamy has had a really good couple of franchise seasons. I know he popped up in the CWPL draft for example which is always a good endorsement of an uncapped player's domestic performances.

I'm looking forward to Mulder getting a proper crack at #6 (or #7 behind de Kock) at home.

100%

 

[StephenZA]

I wanted a shake up of the team (more the LO team) but they have gone with consistency which is probably the sensible thing to do. In the end CSA are shaking up the provincial structures and there own internal structures, whether this will be good or bad time will tell, but it is better than throwing youngsters into the meat grinder of international cricket needlessly.

 

[M0rphin3]

Bavuma looks fine when he plays, and comes up with these crunch40/50 and partnerships esp in low scoring games, but that just won't do anymore. Especially after such a long run. But again, the squad looks pretty decent, given the options ATM. Batting looks really thin now, but let's see.

Why is he the VC Btw? Makes little sense?

 

[Stefan9]

Second ruled out of india tour. Klaasen replaces him. Would have preferred verryne

 

[Heboric]

Nothing Racial in nature but just curious is Quinton De Kock ( the best keeper in the world right now) a Afrikaan or Coloured ?

He is a white guy, I am actually not sure how well is his Afrikaans.

I used to work with a guy called Jacques Venter (which is a very Afrikaans name). but in reality he was terrible in Afrikaans.

 

[SeamUp]

Second ruled out of india tour. Klaasen replaces him. Would have preferred verryne

Actually disappointed. Klaasen hasn't exactly been in fine touch for quite a while now and Verreynne would have been more like for like in Second too in style of batsmanship.